Meet the Staff of the Berkeley Academy

List of 7 items.

Kim Graham Lawless

Kim Graham Lawless is Berkeley Preparatory School’s founding Director of Community Engagement and Service Learning. Prior to Berkeley, she founded and lead the Student Services and College Counseling Department of KIPP DC: College Preparatory – a Washington, D.C. charter school aimed at helping low-income, disadvantaged students get to and through college. Lawless has a passion for helping all students reach their unique potential and in 2013, was awarded the College Board's NOSCA National Advocacy Award for her work. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Florida and MEd from The University of Maryland. Lawless is also a National Board Certified Counselor and a National Board Certified School Counselor.

Caroline Lindsey

Caroline Lindsey is a Tampa native who graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1995 with degrees in English and Secondary Education and Concordia University in 2015 with a masters degree in Educational Leadership. Caroline joined the independent school family at Berkeley Preparatory School in 2002, first as an English teacher and then as an Academic Counselor. In 2008, she took on the role of Dean of Students for grades 9 and 10, and for the past six years she has served as both the Dean of Students for grades 11 and 12 and as an Upper Division English teacher. Prior to teaching and working at Berkeley, Caroline served as an English teacher in the public sector in Atlanta, Georgia for five years. Caroline’s career in education has also included mentoring, advising, coaching, interviewing prospective students and faculty members, and serving on various committees including the Florida Council of Independent Schools Accreditation team, Berkeley’s Family Service Council, Honor Council, and Serious Discipline Committee. She has also presented to the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the National Association of Episcopalian Schools. Caroline is passionate about working with students and helping each of them reaching their potential both inside and outside of the classroom. When she is not on Berkeley’s campus, Caroline loves to spend time with her husband and two sons, as well as reading, traveling, and exploring new restaurants.

Emilie Sukijbumrung

Emilie Sukijbumrung began as a founding Berkeley Academy teacher. She then grew to become a Lead Teacher at the Berkeley Academy, and now serves as the Assistant Director for Scholar Support and as a Middle Division math teacher at Berkeley Preparatory School. She is passionate about social equality and education reform. Sukijbumrung holds a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Tampa, and she is eager to continue her career in working to bridge the “Opportunity Gap”.

Zoe Anderson

Zoe Anderson, originally from the New England area, has been working in Independent schools since graduating from the University of Vermont with her BA in English and secondary education in 2001. Before moving to Florida and joining the Berkeley Preparatory School in 2007, Zoe worked in several New England boarding schools, serving as an English teacher, dorm parent, advisor, swimming and lacrosse coach, prom coordinator, and yearbook advisor. During her time at Berkeley, Zoe has served as an Upper Division English teacher, Advisory coordinator, the inaugural girls’ lacrosse coach, and Academic Dean. She has also earned a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. Zoe is a passionate educator who believes in each student’s potential. When not on Berkeley’s campus, Zoe enjoys playing outside with her husband, two daughters, and their family dogs.

Jennifer Butler

Math Coach

Jennifer Butler has been an educator for 17 years graduating from University of South Florida with a degree in Elementary Education in 2001. She has taught math in grades 1-8th in Pinellas and Hillsborough County. She has experience as a math coach at the Elementary Level and Middle School level. Jennifer has won teacher of the year three times, Math Teacher of the Year in Pinellas County and PRISM Math Teacher of Excellence in Hillsborough County. She was the lead teacher at Young Middle Magnet School for three years focusing on marketing, curriculum development and theme integration. Jennifer has presented at Magnet Schools of America conference, NSTA (National Science Teachers of America) and Green Schools Conference. She has created professional development opportunities and mentored teachers throughout her career. Jennifer believes in hands on engaging math lessons and having students develop a deep understanding of math concepts through investigations and high level questioning.

Chris Leonardo

Chris Leonardo is an Upper Division Science Instructor at Berkeley Preparatory School, where he teaches anatomy, biology, chemistry and neuroscience at various levels. Chris earned a BA in Psychology from Syracuse University in 2001, an MS in Medical Sciences from the University of South Florida (USF) in 2005, and a PhD in Medical Sciences, with a Concentration in Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, from USF in 2008. Prior to Berkeley, Chris spent a decade in academic research, where he investigated the neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to neurodegenerative disease pathology. Chris has authored numerous scientific publications and book chapters related to his research and has presented at various national meetings in the areas of both scientific research (Society for Neuroscience) and education (Florida Council of Independent Schools). Chris came to Berkeley with a passion for creating opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in science. He was instrumental in founding the Medical Science Club (MSC) and the Berkeley Chapter of the Health Occupations Students Association (HOSA), and serves as Advisor for each. These clubs provide students with opportunities to learn about health science careers, network with professionals in various disciplines, attend guest speaker events and participate in competitive national events. Chris is also Advisor for the Science Tutors, serves on the Honor Council, and is Assistant Coach for Middle Division Wrestling. When he is not at Berkeley, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife and four children.

Jeff Righter

Jeff Righter has been teaching high school English in the Tampa Bay area for 25 years. He holds a BA from The Ohio State University and an MA in writing from Northeastern. Jeff is also a graduate of the Tampa Bay Area Writing Project (TBAWP), a professional organization of teachers whose mission is to create life-long writers and learners and to improve writing instruction in their school communities. Jeff has conducted writing workshops for teachers in the Tampa Bay Area as a fellow of the Writing Project and has worked as an instructor and director of the TBAWP summer writing camps. Jeff also studied poetry at DePaul University in Chicago as a grant recipient from the National Endowment for the Humanities. At Berkeley, Jeff teaches English in the upper division and has worked as a co-director of the writing center. In addition, Jeff is an assistant cross country, and track and field coach.

BERKELEY PREPARATORY SCHOOL

4811 Kelly Road

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Tampa, FL 33615

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(813) 885-1673

Berkeley puts people in the world who make a positive difference.

Berkeley Preparatory School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory, Episcopal-affiliated day school for children in grades Pre-K – 12. Dedicated to academic excellence, character development, the arts and athletics, Berkeley’s curriculum is designed to support the talent and ambition of each student. Guided by the vision statement “Berkeley puts people in the world who make a positive difference,” Berkeley strives to instill a strong sense of morality, ethics and social responsibility in its students.